Jesus, Paul, and the People of God: A Theological Dialogue with N.T. Wright (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2011) Edited by Nicholas Perrin and Richard B. Hays

In the introduction to Jesus, Paul, and the People of God, Nicholas Perrin states, “In contemplating the sum total of all the books written on Jesus and Paul in the last twenty years, one would be hard-pressed to think of a name that comes up more in the indexes than, ‘Wright, N.T.’”

N.T. Wright has indelibly made his mark on biblical scholarship. Wright, a prolific author, has written over forty books, including both scholarly and popular works, and he’s not done yet!

At the 2010 Wheaton Theology Conference, Wright’s scholarship was assessed by nine other biblical scholars and theologians. The weekend conference was set up to laud the work of Wright and to engage with his theology. The series of lectures have been placed nicely within this book.

Jeffrey Greenman, Wheaton’s associate dean of biblical and theological studies and the conference organizer, explains, “We felt that N.T. Wright’s stature as a leading biblical scholar and his widespread influence in the church warranted a unique exploration of his thought.”

PART ONE: JESUS AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD

1.  Jesus and the Victory of God Meets the Gospel of John

Marianne Meye Thompson, Fuller Theological Seminary

* N.T. Wright’s Response

2.  Knowing Jesus: Story, History, and the Question of Truth

Richard B. Hays, Duke Divinity School

* N.T. Wright’s Response

3.  “Outside of a Small Circle of Friends”: Jesus and the Justice of God

Sylvia C. Keesmaat and Brian J. Walsh, University of Toronto

* N.T. Wright’s Response

4.   Jesus’ Eschatology and Kingdom Ethics: Ever the Twain Shall Meet

Nicholas Perrin, Wheaton College Graduate School

* N.T. Wright’s Response

5.   Whence and Whither Historical Jesus Studies in the Life of the Church?

* N.T. Wright, University of St. Andrews

PART TWO: PAUL AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD

6.     Glimpsing the Glory: Paul’s Gospel, Righteousness and the Beautiful Feet of N.T. Wright

Edith Humphrey, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

* N.T. Wright’s Response

7.    The Shape of Things to Come? Wright Amidst Emerging Ecclesiologies

Jeremy S. Begbie, Duke Divinity School

* N.T. Wright’s Response

8.    Did St. Paul Go to Heaven When He Died?

Markus Bockmuehl, University of Oxford

* N.T. Wright’s Response

9.    Wrighting the Wrongs of the Reformation? The State of the Union with Christ in St. Paul and Protestant Soteriology

Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Wheaton College Graduate School

* N.T. Wright’s Response

10.    Whence and Whither Pauline Studies in the Life of the Church?

* N.T. Wright, University of St. Andrews

If you have followed Wright’s work, you will enjoy reading the lectures that both celebrate and challenge him. In part one, much of the dialogue revolves around Wright’s riveting book, Jesus and the Victory of God (JVG). Although it would be helpful to have read JVG, it is not necessary. In fact, the dialogue will simply encourage you to read JVG if you haven’t already.

In part two, the dialogue centers on his books, What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Saul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity and Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church.

Finally, you may prefer listening to the conference lectures as you read along. You will especially enjoy hearing the two panel discussions, which are not included in this book.

Thank you IVP for publishing this wonderful collection of essays that interact with the refreshing scholarship of N.T. Wright.

A special thanks to IVP’s online publicity manager, Adrianna Wright (no relation to Tom), for sending me the book.